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History:
In the beginning - the year 1883 - was a truly original idea a few ambitious watchmakers had decided to get together to buy up and sell watch parts. But trade alone soon palled. Not to let craftsmanship go to waste, they went into partnership with specialized businesses to construct a number of watch calibers and at the same time to broaden the trading network. Thus driven by the notion that unity is strength, the initial loose association developed into a group comprising producers, wholesalers and retailers. In 1896 the Association Horlogere Suisse registered a trademark for watch movements and cases. The idea proved to be worthwhile. For that reason other prominent businesses eventually followed suit, among them the American companies, Gruen and Hamilton, as well as the Glashutte chronometer-makers Union Horlogere Glashuette Sa. GmbH, which was dissolved in 1922. In 1911 Alpina became a brand-name of the Union Horlogere. Its primary role was as the signature on the group's wide range of extremely varied wristwatches. Catalogs of the time showed jewelry models with platinum, gold or silver cases. Also on offer were wrist-chronographs.

After the First World War, political circumstances required the setting up of the Alpina - Deutsche Uhrmacher Genossenschaft GmbH headquartered in Berlin. The Swiss mother company was registered as Alpina Fabriques d'Horlogerie Reunies S.A. and also as Union Horlogere. In around 1927 the well known "red triangle" was registered in Germany as the Alpina trademark. In the thirties, the co-operation with Gruen made its mark in the Alpina-Gruen signature on the legendary Duo-Dial watches produced by Aegler. The Alpina Gruen Guild Watch Co. was responsible for production and sales. In the early fifties automatic wristwatches joined the product spectrum. Since that time there have been no u
nusual achievements to report.